❖ Video ❖ Audio ב (Beth): What Does it Mean to Live According to Jesus’ Teachings? Series: Finding the Gospel in Psalm 119ーA Hymn to the Law　2/22 Psalm 119:9-16 Andy Nagahara The longest psalm, Psalm 119, is made up of 22 groups of verses separated by eight verses. Twenty-two is the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and each grouping is in alphabetical order, with the beginning of each sentence all starting with the same letter. Since today is the second in the series, the Hebrew alphabet ב (Beth), which stands for B in English, is used at the beginning of each verse. Last time, I told you that…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Our Attitudes Toward Authority Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:11-17 Mari Ikeda Dear God, this world suffers many pains and sorrows because of our sin. Help each of us understand your love and work on your justice. Give your guidance to our political leaders in order for them to realize your love in our society. Dear our Lord Jesus, we pray this in your name. Amen.  1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God…

❖ Video ❖ Audio א (Aleph): The Joy of Walking in the Lord’s Way Series: Finding the Gospel in Psalm 119ーA Hymn to the Law 1/22 Psalm119:1-8, Luke 6:20-26 Andy Nagahara Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, even longer than the previous one, which was longer. The Japanese Bible describes it as an alphabetical song.　The eight verses are grouped together, and the same letters are used at the beginning of each of the eight verses. The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are used in order, so for example, in today’s section, the letter of א (Aleph) is placed at the beginning of every sentence in all eight verses in…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Let Us Rely on the Holy Spirit Acts chapter 1-10, John 14:15−21 Mari Ikeda It’s Pentecost today, the day to remember and celebrate the first coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and Jesus. While God, the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same, they are all different from each other. So we don’t need to make a strict distinction among three, today I’d like to focus on who the Holy Spirit is, by reading mainly the book of Acts. Let’s read Acts 1:3-11 first. A.We cannot do anything without the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3-11) Act1:3…

❖ Video ❖ Audio His Love Endures Forever Psalm 118 Andy Nagahara Psalm 118 is a long psalm in contrast to the previous one. So, my suggestion is, why don’t you read this psalm to yourself little by little this week, starting today, and have a short service of meditation and prayer every day?　So today I will try to provide a guiding explanation for this. The first thing I would like you to know about this entire psalm is that the 113-118, including this one, were sung as a series of prayers during the Passover meal.　So it is likely that these were also the songs that Jesus and his disciples…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Practice of Love (Part2/2): “Love Your Enemies” Romans 12:17-21, Matthew 5:38-48 Mari Ikeda Today I’m going to talk about what it means to practice love by reading the Romans chapter 12, continuing from last time. While last time we heard about loving each other in church, we’ll learn today what it means to love our enemies. I’d like to briefly read the Romans first, but will more focus on Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Mark afterwards. Let’s read from Romans 12:17-21. A. Flawed reasoning in Old Testament teachings （Romans 12:17-21） 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Lord of “All Nations” Psalm 117 Andy Nagahara The Psalm 117 is the shortest verse in the Book of Psalms. However, as the Apostle Paul quotes it as an important matter, it offers important suggestions for us as we walk through this world with faith. Today, while introducing some related texts, I would like to consider how we can take on the problems that the psalmist and Paul faced, which are actually our challenges as well. Let’s read it once first. 1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. 2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Practice of Love (Part1): In Church Romans 12:9-16 Mari Ikeda Today I was planning to read the Romans 12:9-21, but I decided to divide the passage into two parts, as its content is quite broad. So we’re going to read the first half today, which is verse 9-16.The very first sentence of the first verse today, 12:9, says this: “Love must be sincere.” It means, love must be true and genuine. What does it mean specifically? We’ll learn it from the passage we’ll read today and in the next time.The passage up to v.16, which we’ll read today, talks about the practice of love in…

❖ Video ❖ Audio How can I repay the LORD？ Psalm 116 Andy Nagahara Like many of the songs in the Psalms, it seems that at the core of this song is the experience of the psalmist’s own near death, such as a serious illness, for example. But at the same time, when it came to be sung publicly in temple services, it was sung to recall the tribulations in Egypt, which were the common affliction of the people, and the tribulations under occupation by neighboring nations in later times. In some denominations of the modern church, it is even sung to thank God for the safe delivery of the…

❖ Video ❖ Audio A New Heart and A New Way of Life Romans 12:1-8 Mari Ikeda Today we begin Romans chapter 12. Let’s read it right away. First, verses 1-2. A. A new way of life (1-2) 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. 1. Every…